Sonny of Riyaaz Qawwali - provides musical, lyrical and strategic direction to the group

With a harmonious blend of South Asian and the Western influences, Sonny K. Mehta leads the ensemble as the artistic director for Riyaaz Qawwali. With over 24 years of classical music training, he has spent half of that time devoted to understanding and growing an awareness of qawwali.

With fluency in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and English, he is well suited to be a cultural ambassador and take a very secluded/folk art form (as well as the associated poetry) to the Western audiences and the newer South Asian generations.